Common moving scams and how to avoid them
Last updated 2026-07-10 ยท MovePlan Editorial Team
Hostage shipments. Phantom estimates. Vanishing movers. Movers scam customers in predictable ways.
- Step: Get binding estimates in writing
- Step: Never pay full upfront
- Step: Confirm USDOT and MC numbers
- Step: Read recent reviews
- Step: Verify physical business address
- Step: Trust your gut on phone-only quotes
Scam awareness.
When: Especially careful with cross-country moves.
Watch out: Hostage shipment scam: mover loads your stuff, then demands triple the quote to deliver. Federal law prohibits this but it still happens.
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